Taxing times the Roman way

As I sit down to fill in my tax return I’m looking for any distraction. This year in France, it’s compulsory to do it online. Aurelia and Carina have their own business managers in Roma Nova with some poor souls in their office tasked to complete the wretched things.

Anyway… My mind wandered off […]

Who governs Roma Nova?

You may have gathered from the nine Roma Nova books that the small state has various bodies of government: head of state (imperatrix), upper house (senate), people’s assembly, local government (curia) offices, a legal system, a foreign ministry and other ministries, a strong diplomatic service, a central bank, army and police force (vigiles, later […]

Where the senators lurk...

Curia Julia (back)

Cicero accusing Cataline, Maccari Hall, Italian Senate (Public domain)

Roman senators: men in white togas, lots of waffle, drama, hot air and the odd good speech. Such is the (often wildly inaccurate) impression that we gain from television and film of Rome’s Senate.

The senatus romanus was one of the most enduring institutions […]